Posted by Tim on
November 14, 2007
November 9th 2007
The Debut of Sequelitis
When Horror Sequels Go One Step Too Far!!
Evil finds its way home this week on DEADPIT Radio, and by Evil…we’re talking about evil shitty sequels as we debut a new show entitled ‘Sequelitis’ it’s when the studios push a franchise right into the grave. In this edition we discuss Stephen Hopkins’ ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child’ from 1989 and Rick Rosenthal’s ‘Halloween Resurrection’ from 2002. The horror doesn’t end there however, as we go through the week’s news, take some phone calls (with a few surprise guests from the After Dark Horror Fest ‘07) and review horror dvd goodness as always including: The Brad Pitt Slasher film ‘Cutting Class’ , Tim Sullivan’s sophomore effort with DDP starring ‘Driftwood’ , the brand new Synapse Films release of Frank Henenlotter’s horror comedy ‘Basket Case 2’ , Anchor Bay’s new 20th anniversary edition of ‘Hellraiser’ and the brand new 2 disc edition of Creepshow released by Universal in the UK. All of this and more this week on the original horror talk radio show…DEADPIT.com!
Posted by Tim on
November 14, 2007
Gross Movie Reviews #106
By Tim Gross
Children of the Corn II: The Final Sacrifice (DVD) – It took eight years to make a sequel but they did. The film opens with the children of Gatlin being shipped off to the next Nebraska town after authorities find a mass grave in a basement of a house. For some reason making it like it picked up from the end of the original film. So with what’s left of Gatlin’s children they still believe in the spirit of the corn and of course it is time to kill more adults. The film is cheesy, bad, and worthless but for some strange I just find myself drawn to watch the film again from time to time. But the topper of the sequel is they try to tie up loose ends from the original which is the least of the sequel’s problems, meaning the several others that came after this. I give this hard to find DVD 1 star.
Basic Slaughter (DVD-R) – The latest project from Steve Rudzinski who gave us the micro-budgeted classics “Wolfster and Wolfster Part 2â€, is about a killer with no motive, just a killer who dresses in all black and goes around Rotary, Pa. killing random people! Not the best film from the talented filmmaker Steve Rudzinski but has some redeeming things about it like a cameo appearance by myself getting killed while playing on a “swing setâ€, some cool gore effects for no budget, and some comedy relief from Henrique Couto playing a news reporter is keeping you up to the minute on the recent killing spree! The DVD also has lots extras worth checking out including an interview with the killer who stays in character during the interview which almost made me piss myself laughing at it! I give the movie 2 stars, but I’m looking forward to more projects from Steve in the future and you can find out more about this project and others at www.darkmulletcinema.net .
Vacancy (DVD) – Kate Beckinsale and Luke Wilson play a couple who are on the outs and traveling to Kate’s parent’s house and get lost. The only thing around is a old gas station and a ratty looking motel so with that the car breaks down and they are forced to stay at the motel. Shortly there after the couple realizes they are being watched for some strange reason and eventually find out they are going to be a part of a snuff film made by the man who runs the motel. The movie has some fun cheap scares, and doesn’t go too overboard with acting or plotline and keeps it simple and effective. The ending is something to be desired but the overall film is worth renting as I give the movie 2 ½ stars.
Day of the Dead (DVD) – The third film in Romero’s ‘dead’ series that was thought to be his last at one point. The film is considered a masterpiece by most for its political overtones or it’s over the top gore or even for Romero showing the evolution of zombies the longer they rule the world as we once knew it! It’s hard to say what exactly contributed to this great zombie film except that everything from the actors and actresses to Savini’s effects to the man that played “Bub†the zombie all had a part in bringing horror fans a perfect look at the future of when zombies rise from their grave and take over. The film works on so many levels as most of the film is filmed underground in close because the zombies have driven mankind and the military to the brink of extinction! If you have never seen George Romero’s masterpiece zombie film, turn in your horror movie fan membership card in now as it is perfect and can be watched over and over without getting old! I give it 4 stars of course.
Bats: Human Harvest (DVD/Sci-fi Channel) – An American scientist experiments on bats in Russia that kill everyone and anyone he wants them to until the America’s finest find him and screw up his project! Nothing great but I’ll give it 1 ½ stars.
Come Get Some! (DVD) – A black and white, micro budget zombie film from the south. A washed up agent is sent to a small town to clean up a small zombie outbreak but instead runs into resistance from local rednecks that don’t want him around. The washed up agent eventually gets help from four hot looking ass kicking women who have been trying to get rid of the rednecks. Not only does the ass kicking women get rid of the rednecks they help save the day from the zombie plague! The film has a great soundtrack; it’s shot well, but paced poorly in my opinion until the last 15 minutes where the fun begins with everybody fighting zombies and rednecks performing every WWE finishing move in the past five years! The DVD is worth buying for the last 15 minutes and if that doesn’t get you, yes the women get topless at one point during a dream. I give the DVD 3 stars and you can find it at www.comegetsomethefilm.com .
Abbott and Costello Meets Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (VHS) – A black and white classic starring the famous comedy team meeting Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. It’s one of many of their classic films of teaming the duo up with all the Universal Monsters among other creatures and such. This classic never gets old but can be found on DVD here and there as it has been released two or three times before and packaged with some of their other classics. I give the movie 3 stars.
Zombi 3 (DVD) – The film is also known as Zombie 3 but it is too long of a story to explain how it came to be, but the film is also known for Fulci never finishing the film because of illness. Fellow director Bruno Mattei took over for Fulci which some horror fan’s eyes was a mistake. The film was made several years after Fulci’s classic original and is no where as good as the original but here we go? For the most part it’s a splatter zombie film that lacked a lot but has terrorists mistakenly open a case that holds a virus called, ‘death one’. Apparently the government has been using it to experiment on dead people with horrible results. But once an infected body is burned and the ashes go into the atmosphere its all over for mankind as dead begin to rise and eat everyone in the world until they can be stopped by the government. I give the movie 2 stars.
Zombie 4: After Death (DVD) – A sequel by name only has voodoo zombies jumping around and killing anyone who sets foot on their island! The movie is mostly known for being directed by the man who wrote the script for the cult hit “Nightmare Cityâ€! I give this DVD 1 ½ stars.
Devil Dog: Hound of Hell (DVD) – A two disc set for a late 70s Made-for-TV movie about a dog that is possessed by the devil. The German Shepard puppy is given to a brother and sister shortly after their family pet has been ran down in the street by the legendary actor R.G.Armstrong so you know there is something wrong with the dog right away. But it is up to Col. Troutman or should I say “First Blood’s†Richard Crenna to protect his family from the devil dog. It’s not a great movie by any means but a great flashback type of film of what movies were like in the late 70s as I give it 2 stars.
Any comments or questions please send to: LAN_EMAIL_SUBS or www.myspace.com/slasherfilmfan . Also you can purchase my two horror movie review books, “Gross Movie Reviews Volume One and Two†at www.lulu.com or www.amazon.com . But also the book is available again at Incredibly Strange Video in Dormont, Pa. or www.incrediblystrangevideo.com . You can also find other reviews from me at www.bastardsofhorror.com , www.bloodtypeonline.com , and in the movie review section of the latest Ultra Violent magazine (www.uvmagazine.com). Remember folks if you are renting from Blockbuster you are not renting from the best! Support your local independent video store! It will keep horror alive………
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